Thea Kroontje and Kees Verdouw in the lead after DMC-I
Sunday 24 November 2024 the first international Dutch Masters Cup 2024-2025 was skated on IJsbaan Twente in Enschede. With 24 women and 41 men at the start, the competition had a well-filled field with very motivated master speedskaters.
Thea Kroontje skated two world records L80 and Slovenian Klass Berliç Fras skated two national record for Slovenia. It was a very successful evening in Enschede!
Women and men of category 80 are in the lead
MCLN stands for a lifelong fitness. Thea Kroontje, with her age of 80, showed her capabilities and finished in 55 seconds on the 500m and in 1.55 for the 1,000m. This is really exceptional! The former records were 1:16.46 on the 500m and 2:35.30 on the 1,000m, both skated by the Russian Galina Ulyancheva last April in Kolomna. This shows the extra ordinary level of Thea Kroontje, who not only gained the “normal” 100 points for the win of the day (with 1.55.83 in the 1,000m she realizes 134.08% of the world record), but also the 75 bonus points for skating two world record. She is by far in the lead!
Also in the men’s category it is a master in the M80 category who is in the lead. Kees Verdouw, since July also 80 years old, also impressed with his two times: 52.72 in the 500m and 1.43.96 in the 1,000m. With his 1,000m time, he approached the world record in the M80 to 96.46%. This record is since 2020 held by Canadian Ronald Johnston with 1:40.28. Perhaps Kees will succeed in improving a world record at one of the next DMCs, because even though the records are sharp, they are within his reach and capabilities!
Women’s field is exciting
Thea Kroontje is naturaly in the lead, but in the field behind her, everything is possible to reach the podium. Anke Jannie is now in second place with 80 points, by skating 44.22 in the 500m. That is 96.70% of the world record in the L50, which is held by Anja Bollaart since 2017, skated in Inzell.
Mijke Anne Kanneworff follows in third place. She also got the corresponding 70 points based on her 500m time. Her time of 42.70 (just behind Anke Jannie who is on position 2) means 96.63% of the world record in her category L40. This world record of 41.26 is since 2015 held by Anke Jannie.
Lettie Zwanenburg (L65) and Claudia Henckel (L35) follow as numbers 4 and 5 in the ranking and are certainly have a chance for the podium!
Pieter Jorn Gemser scores high
For the first time during the DMC-competitions, Pieter-Jorn Gemser is heading for the podium. He was the only skater of the evening to skate 12.5 laps on the 5km. And with his time of 7:22.79, he approached the world record in his M45 category at 7:01.42, set by Arjan Elferink, to 95.17%. With this result he reached the third place and gained 70 points just behind Bart Seffinga. With his 500m time of 39.53 Bart approached the world record M40 at 95.19%(!) and took 80 points instead of Pieter Jorn. The world record 500m M50 is held by American Andrew Love since 2013 with 37.63.
The 4th and 5th places are occupied by each other rivals in the M70: Frank Steenkamp and Ab Nederlof. Both skated a 3km, which brought them to respectively 93.96% and 92.66% of the world record. This record is held by Jan van der Meulen since 2015 with a very sharp time of 4.41.51. But what if both masters attack the record on the 5km next DMC? Ab Nederlof was the fastest on the 3K last year? Could either of them break the record and thus collect the bonus points?
Slovenian records
Last season during the MAG in Enschede, Klas Berliç Fras set national records for Slovenia and improved these records during the TRR2024. This time he did this again. With impressive improvements of more than 1.5 seconds in the 500m and an impressive 38 seconds in the 1,500m, he succeeded in improving the Slovenian records on the 500m and 1,000m.
Next Dutch Masters Cup competitions
The next DMC will take place on Sunday 22 December 2024 in Thialf. This season the final Dutch Masters Cup will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2025 in Leeuwarden.
Make sure you are there! Not only for the victory, but of course to improve yourself and above all to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and friendship during these international masters competitions.
Results and rankings
Add Comment